Baby- AMT's Supernatural 19967 Chevy Impala

[Greg Kimsey]

k,...so, I have been working on this model.

As you know, I like to open doors and trunks and what not and thought "Hey let's open the doors on Baby". I haven't documented the operation so far so I don't have process shots to show, but I am making this post now so I will catch you guys up on what I am doing with the car then show "where I am" photos tonight. First of all...the doors. This is a four door sedan, but the door post does NOT go to the roof. It is a free standing post a little shorter than the doors so it is hidden when they close. Like this...

How in the world does it seals to be waterproof and windproof I can't imagine, but I have found some really good reference photos of this yellow 4 door impala and am using them to add the details. I still have to figure out how to hinge the rear doors. I have made posts by gluing three layers of 2mm styrene sheet and shaping. I have the inner door panels in place and spacers made with styrene and putty to get the right depth. I lay the matching doors on a cloth and put Tamiya tape over the space between to mark the shape of the pillars front to back, then used card stock to make a template to match the arc shape for the door convex shape. Filling the space between the back seat and fender has not come to me yet.

I did open the trunk and used styrene to make the inner bracing on the underside of the lid. I am also using plastic card to line the trunk. There are some some gaps that I can't figure out, so my solution will be to use fabric to line the trunk and cover any openings that remain. I used flat copper strip to make the hinges so that they sort of resemble the real thing.

I opened the glove compartment and I intend to 3D print a pistol to go in there. I boxed out the compartment with 1mm plastic card and made a new door with thin copper plate to replace the thick plastic molded door; now to figure out how to hinge it so the door opens and stays flat.

The hood will have working hinge if all goes to plan. I have ordered tiny springs to see if I can make a miniature working realistic hinge like what is on the real car. Never done it before but I have seen it done.

The seats will hinge, blah blah blah, nothing new here. None of this may work out but I am givin'er the old college try. I wasn't going to document in case of an epic fail because I am not really sure I will be able to do this, but was persuaded. Stay tuned for updated progress photos of the actual real life model!

 

[Rhino]

Hey, Lil' Brother! It's a 4-door. Seats don't need to hinge, do they?

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Hey, Lil' Brother! It's a 4-door. Seats don't need to hinge, do they?

Yep, yer right! I haven't even looked at them, just figured they would. I know almost nothing about cars LOL.

Ok, here is where I am...
The glove compartment is lined. I see a dent in the new metal door so I may make another. Still figuring out how to hinge but have an idea.

The afore mentioned posts. How to anchor so it is strong enough to support an open door. Thinking of drilling and puttin a screw through the bottom

The trunk is lined and you can see the hinges I fashioned. I have mini rivets that will help anchor the hinge to the lid framework.

And the doors. I lay the doors together to figure out the shape of the posts. They seem to fit well.

I lined the inside of the inner door panel with styrene then used two part epixy putty to fill the gap, then Tamiya putty to smooth out and divets that remained.

I used sharp chisels to shave off all of the molded wiring and cut off the coolant reservoir. I replaced some things on the firewall with metal and plastic tubing.

It is hard to know in which order I should do things!

 

[moon puppy]

I remember these cars well. They had some really good weather seals between the doors and windows.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

You have really taken a big bite on this one Greg. Will be watching.